The Recovering Pharisee

10 Reasons I Love Biblical Counseling (A Mental Health Awareness Month Special)

Drop me a message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2543106/fan_mail/new] In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm sharing 10 personal reflections on why I love biblical counseling. The Word of God is sufficient to answer the questions that matter most. The local church is God's beautiful design for soul care. And Jesus offers more hope than any diagnosis, program, or methodology ever could. If you've ever wondered whether the Bible has anything to say to your real struggles — it does. More than you know.

Feeling Bad About Sin Isn't Repentance—Here's What Is

Drop me a message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2543106/fan_mail/new] You can feel terrible about your sin and still not be repentant. That might sound harsh, but it's true—and understanding the difference could change everything. Most of us have been taught that repentance means feeling bad about what we've done. But the Bible makes a crucial distinction between two kinds of sorrow: worldly sorrow that leads to death, and godly sorrow that leads to life. One hates getting caught. The other hates the sin itself. In this episode, I'm walking through 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 and giving you a biblical scorecard for true repentance. Not as a weapon to beat yourself up, but as a gift to help you see clearly. We'll look at 7 traits of genuine repentance, how God's kindness (not His threats) leads us to turn, and why the Spirit's work is essential in all of it. If you've ever wondered whether your repentance is real—or if you're helping someone else walk through repentance—this episode is for you.

How to Confess Sin Biblically

Drop me a message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2543106/fan_mail/new] Most Christians know they should confess sin — but almost nobody has been taught why or how to do it well. In this episode we tackle the question "why do we even confess if Jesus already paid for our sins?", walk through what bad confession looks like and why it never brings freedom, and work through Ken Sande's 7 A's of a biblical confession. If you've been confessing and still feel stuck, this episode is for you. Book Referenced: The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict [https://www.amazon.com/Peacemaker-Biblical-Resolving-Personal-Conflict/dp/0801064856/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12Z8OHWPJS81M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TY_6FmEy_gWXekQd0XPtllMO1VHs__5KBCW0kRsTrZYkqVJzcCqVWqFHf6OAsB56PfiL0piW0aeilmrRZ23EFjCCgU6KJFGpfm5xptmKFAXhwndoWlvhXBt2Ojr1geLYFoxFpGBcsD5yM0QZ3ye6c7c0fgppnhzc6UPLI85bTgPXgxFJQoE7AIvYEJsZLvFZtTPpCtW1gYhmMcji8Eip_HQqwfIko6sLdG6bnDDfsvE.KuNZfvkZkT4cK3Ec6nRWHyCuiXw-BSAmCqOLZ4lb5MU&dib_tag=se&keywords=ken+sande&qid=1777668391&sprefix=ken+sand%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1] by Ken Sande

Why Do I Keep Sinning? (You're Asking The Wrong Question)

Drop me a message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2543106/fan_mail/new] You're not fighting to become free from sin—you're fighting because you already are free. Most Christians approach temptation with the same exhausting cycle: try harder, fail again, wonder if God really saved them. But Romans 6 reveals a better way. Through union with Christ, His victory over sin is already yours. You're not enlisting in God's army to earn freedom—you've already defected from the enemy's kingdom. This episode unpacks how to fight sin from a position of victory, not for it. In this episode: * Why "I can't help it" is never true for Christians * The difference between struggling with sin vs. setting up camp in it * How to make yourself a weapon of righteousness (Romans 6:13) * Why naming your specific sin matters when you confess The Recovering Pharisee equips pastors, church leaders, and serious disciples with sound doctrine and practical theology. Hosted by Cameron Dobbins, this podcast bridges theological truth and daily Christian living—helping you understand how doctrine shapes life as a church member, spouse, and parent.

What to Do With Unwanted Thoughts (A Biblical Framework)

Drop me a message [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2543106/fan_mail/new] If you've ever been tormented by unwanted thoughts—intrusive, dark, anxious thoughts that feel true even when you know they're not—this episode is for you. I'm walking through a biblical framework for understanding and responding to intrusive thoughts well. You'll learn the difference between temptation and sin, how to examine unwanted thoughts with 6 diagnostic questions, and practical steps for replacing ungodly thinking with truth.